NORFOLK - Signing Day isn’t just for athletes anymore.
Northeast Community College hosted an event on Friday where 65 students signed letters of intent to attend the college and enroll in career and technical education programs at Northeast.
Northeast officials said they wanted to make signing in the CTE program a big deal for students, who - like the most elite of college athletes - will be called upon for their own high-paying jobs after they graduate.
“Supply versus demand is creating job security and higher pay,” said Tony Glenn, career field specialist with the Nebraska Department of Education. “In many cases the pay is higher than jobs that require a four-year degree.”
Northeast officials say the higher pay promise is no joke, as some CTE graduates have said they were getting entry-level jobs that paid anywhere from $26 to $33 an hour.
“By choosing to train here at Northeast Community College you’re setting yourself up for success, no matter part of the state you go to whether it’s urban or rural,” Glenn told the students on Friday. “You will have the skills necessary to earn a quality way of life while being productive citizens.”
The students who graduate from Northeast’s CTE program will be filling a big need. National labor statistics show that 70-percent of jobs in today’s work force are classified as "skilled and technical."
Footage for this story was provided by Northeast Community College's Broadcasting program.
